declaring it unlawful, because they deemed that the situation did not require so strong a ruling.

It says in Sharḥ al-Iqnāʿ: “Reciting the Quran during rukūʿ or sujūd is disliked because the Prophet ﷺ forbade it, and because those two positions embody humility and lowliness, whereas the Quran is the most noble of speech.”

3 – The obligation to magnify the Lord, exalted and sublime, while in rukūʿ. This magnification must be voiced in the wording that has come down to us, for Musnad Ahmad (16961) and Sunan Abī Dāwūd (869) relate from ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir that when the verse, “So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great” (56:96) was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Make it part of your rukūʿ.”

4 – The obligation to declare the transcendence of the Lord, exalted and sublime, while in sujūd. This, too, is to be uttered in the transmitted wording, for Imām Ahmad and Abū Dāwūd report from ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir that when the verse, “Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” (87:1) was revealed, he ﷺ said, “Make it part of your sujūd.”

5 – The required tasbīḥ in rukūʿ and sujūd is one time only: “subḥāna rabbī al-ʿaẓīm” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) in rukūʿ, and “subḥāna rabbī al-aʿlā” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) in sujūd. The minimum level of completeness is to repeat it three times, while the upper limit for the imam is ten repetitions. Sticking to these words is better than adding other formulas, unless the prostration is made lengthy.

6 – Saying “subḥāna rabbī al-ʿaẓīm” in rukūʿ and “subḥāna rabbī al-aʿlā” in sujūd is obligatory. If forgotten, the obligation is waived but is compensated for by the prostration of forgetfulness, as will be discussed, Allah willing.

7 – It is preferable to prolong the prostration and exert oneself in supplication, for such a plea is most likely to be answered. The hadith states, “The servant is closest to his Lord when he is prostrating” (related by Muslim, 482). This prolongation, however, must not impose hardship on the worshippers, among whom are the weak and those with urgent needs.

8 – Shaykh al-Islām said: “Reciting the Quran is superior to dhikr, and dhikr is superior to supplication. Nevertheless, a particular individual may rectify his faith by engaging in a lesser act rather than a greater one, and for him that lesser act becomes better.”